Jacques paul zigang



(No Model.)

J P ZIGANG ELECTRIC TRUMPET.

No. 415,990. Patented Novn 26, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACQUES PAUL ZIGANG, OF DOMFRONT, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC TRUMPET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,990, dated November 26, 1889. Application filed March 2'7, 1889. Serial No. 304,941. (No model.) Patented in France October 11, 1886, No .1'78,969.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, JACQUES PAUL ZIGANG,

cuit of a galvanic battery or other suitable source of electricity through a line normally open with respect to said battery and an automatic circuit-breaking or circuit-changing alarm at the distant station.

According to the present invention, instead of the ordinary circuit-changing bell or trembler, which is the alarm commonly employed in such signaling, an alarm or signaling instrument is employed at the distant station in which there is a vibratory plate supported at opposite edges and provided with a magnetic part in the field of said magnet, so as to be thrown into rapid synchronous movements under the successive attractions of an electro-magnet and produce a musical sound.

In this instrument or electric trumpet the vibratory plate is provided with a metallic orconducting part, which constitutes a mova ble electrode for making contact and an opposing electrode or screw is set within the limits of the vibration of said movable elec trode, the two electrodes being connected. in the circuit like the electrodes or contacts of the trembling bell, so that when the two electrodes make and break contact the circuit of the magnet is changed and the plate is drawn or allowed to fly in the opposite direction. The electro-magnet is placed in a box or resonant case, which also forms or may form the mounting for the vibratory frame.

The plate of the alarm or signaling instruin cut may be allowed to vibrate over its whole surface, so as to give out its fundamental tone. When desired, however, the vibratory surfaces may be limited and the tone varied by a stop arranged to bear upon the plate between the edge and middle thereof, and thus produce a more rapid vibration. The combination of a tubular case, the 'ibratory circuit-chauging plate extended across one end of said case, an opposing electrode, anelectro-magnet, and a stop to limit the 'ibrations of the plate arranged as just stated constitutes a special feature of the invention.

The alarm or signaling instrument may be made in a great variety of forms. It is preferred, however, to adopt an arrangement in which the box or case is fastened to a base or support at or near one end and the vibratory armature-plate is secured across the mouth of the box at that end, the electro-magnet being placed in the projecting portion of the box or case and secured to a suit-able part of the box. This arrangement also constitutes a special feature of the invention.

The invention also comprises other special features of construction, as hereinafter particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figurel is a view of a signa1ing-line in accordance with the invention, the alarm or signaling instrument being shown in section. Fig. II is a sectional view of the alarm without the stop to modify the rate of vibration of the armature-plate, and Fig. III is a back view of the instrument shown in Fig. II.

The electro-magnet A, as shown, has a straight base or yoke a, with its ends prolonged and fastened to the tubular case F, whose front end is secured in the base E. The case F may bev of metal and the base of wood or other suitable materials may be used.

In the space formed by the junction at an angle of the projecting box F and the base a circular molding G is or maybe placed. Over the mouth of the box or case at its front end is secured a plate 13, of vibratory material. It is provided with a magnetic part in the field of the electro-magnet and a metallic or conducting part which constitutes one of the circuit-changing electrodes. The terms magnetic part and conducting part are employed generally as indicating a piece or portion of a magnetic or conducting material, and not as restricting the description to a plate which is both magnetic and conducting, for a plate of any vibratory material may be used.

ICO

Plate B is in the form of a circular metallic diaphragm whose edges are clamped between shoulders at the end of the case F, which is also of metal, and the ring F. The body of the case F and the plate B,bcing of metal, form conductors for the electric current, and an integral portion of the plate B may itself constitute the movable one of the circuitchanging electrodes; but other arrangements could be employed whereby the electricity is conducted to an electrode or contact-piece vibrating synchronously with the plate and armature. The plate is preferably made of thin sheet-iron and provided with a rectangular piece of iron B over the poles of the magnet A, which piece B, with an integral portion of the plate, constitutes the magnetic part. A platinum button I), fastened to the plate, is used for the movable electrode. The opposing electrode D, in the form of a platinum-pointed screw provided with a j am-nut, is shown mounted on a metallic cross-piece O, which is fastened to but insulated from the base E. It forms a back contact for the vibratory plate, with which or with the movable electrode it is normally in contact. It is preferred that the cross-piece 0 should bear upon the ring F, so as to hold it in place against the vibratory plate. There are projections H on the back of the base E to hold it away from the surface against which they rest.

In Fig. III ears II are shown for hanging the instrument on a wall.

The electrical connection of the instrument is such that there is normally a closed path for the current between its poles or bindingscrews, the connection being shown from the binding-screw N to the coils of the electromagnet, to the case F, to the armature-plate and electrode B, to the opposing electrode D, to the cross-piece C, and to the binding-screw N.

The instrument is connected in a signal line or circuit K, containing a battery L and a normally-open push-button M. \Vhen the push-button is operated to close the circuit of the battery L through the line K, the current from the battery passes through the coils of the electro-magnet A and energizes the same, so that it attracts the armatureplate B, thus removing itfrom contact with the opposing electrode D and opening the circuit. The magnet A then releases the armature-plate, which flies back, re-establishes the circuit, is reattracted, and continues to vibrate' rapidly, so as to give out a musical tone. The pitch of the tone depends, of course, upon the elasticity of the plate, the strength of the current, and other elements, which can be varied at will. It is preferred toemploy a vibratory metal plate B of about forty (40) millimeters in diameter and about 0.14 of a millimeter in thickness; but other dimensions may be used. The pitch of the sound can be raised above the fundamental tone of the plate B by limiting the vibrating proportion of the plate by any convenientmeansas, for example, by means of a stop:

J, Fig. I, formed of a screw with jam-nut and pressing against the plate between the edge and the middle thereof. By placing the stop at dilferent intermediate points (lifterent tones may be produced. The screw J is carried by a piece I, secured to the base E, and its position can be varied by securing the piece I in a different position or by means of an adjustable connection. Thus the piece I could be turned about the screw 11, which fastens it to the base E. Preferably the piece I, like the piece C, presses the ring F to its seat.

The vibrating plate of the instrument could be made of skin, wood, or other suitable material, as well as of metal, and the box or resonant case could be of hard rubber, wood, or other suitable material.

The alarm or signaling instrument with vibratory plate can be used generally instead of the trembling bell-as, for example, in telephone-signaling and for other purposes. AS there are no loose parts or parts likely to get out of order, the vibratory-plate alarm is particularly well adapted for use on shipboard or railway-trains and the like. Its small dimensions give it great advantages in a telephone system. Its sound is piercing and well adapted to call attention to itself. Means can of course be employed for directing or concentrating the sound, so that it may be heard at a greater distance. Thus in Fig. I there is shown a flaring bell-mouth Q, and any suitable form may be used. As shown, the case F is open at the end opposite the vibratory plate, and this permits the column of air in vibration in said case more freely to communicate its vibrations to the surrounding atmosphere; but the bottom of the tube may be closed' to form a closed resonator.

'I claim as my invention or discovery- 1. In combination with a galvanic battery or generator of electricity, a line normally open with reference to said battery or generator, and a push-button or circuit-changer for closing the battery or generator circuit through said line, an automatic circuit-changing alarm or signaling instrument composed of a box or resonant case, an electro-magnet, a vibratory plate supported at opposite edges and provided with a magnetic portion arranged as a movable armature in the field of said magnet, and provided also with a conducting portion constituting a movable electrode, and an opposing electrode normally within the vibratory limits of first-mentioned electrode, the magnet-coils and electrodes being connected with said line, which is normally closed through the alarm or signaling instrument, substantially as described.

2. The combinattion of a tubular case, a vibratory circuit-changing plate extended across the end of said tubular case, an electro-magnet, the opposing electrode, and a stop to limit the rate of vibrations bearing upon the said plate between the edge and the middlethereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the box or case, the electro-magnet therein, and the vibratory plate stretched over the mouth of said box or case, of a ring clamped upon the said plate at its edges, a piece projecting from the base beyond said ring and pressing thereon to hold said ring in place, and a screw tapped in said piece and bearing upon the plate, substantially as described.

4. An automatic circuit-changing alarm comprising an electro-magnet, a vibratory plate supported at opposite edges and provided With a magnetic part in the field of said magnet and with a conducting part constituting a movable electrode, an opposing electrode Within the vibratory limits of the movable electrode, and a resonant case in the form of an elongated tube crossed at one end by said plate and open at the opposite end for the direct transmission of vibrations of the air column in said resonator to the surrounding atmosphere, substantially as described.

5. An automatic circuit-changing alarm comprising a case in the form of an elongated tube, a vibratory plate supported at opposite edges across one end of said tubular case, the other end of which is left open, an electromagnet in said case leaving suitable space at the side for the passage of air-Waves from the vibratory plate to the open end of the case, and an opposing electrode within the vibratory limits of said vibratory plate, the latter being provided with a magnetic part in the field of said magnet and with a conducting part constituting a movable electrode, subst-antially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ZIGANG.

Witnesses:

GEo. R. OSCHERMER, R. J. PRESTON. 

